Hastening the WorkThrough Digital Service

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Overview

1. The Growth of the ChurchWe will learn about the worldwide growth of the church, missionary work, and the impact of technology.

2. Volunteer.LDS.orgWe will talk about the church’s crowdsourcing projects and show you how to set up a profile on Volunteer.LDS.org.

3. Hastening the Work at BYUWe will introduce you to Vineyard at BYU and talk about upcoming events where you can use your skills to hasten the work.

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Joseph Smith“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

Source: Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:540 Image from LDS Media Library

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Video Church Growth by Stake, 2007

Video from LDS.org, no longer available. http://www.lds.org/videos/0,20069,6635-1,00.html.

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Current Church Membership (31 December 2014)

Wards and Branches: 29,253

Stakes and Districts: 3,621

Members: 15,082,028

Source: Mormon Newsroom Chart from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LDSGrowth.png. GNU Free Documentation License.

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Assuming the standard scientific view of the world,

why did dinosaurs exist?

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Joseph Fielding Smith“I maintain that had there been no restoration of the gospel, and no organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there would have been no radio; there would have been no airplane, and there would not have been the wonderful discoveries in medicine, chemistry, electricity, and the many other things wherein the world has been benefited by such discoveries. Under such conditions these blessings would have been withheld, for they belong to the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times of which the restoration of the gospel and the organization of the Church constitute the central point, from which radiates the Spirit of the Lord throughout the world.

Source: Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, Oct. 1926, p. 117 Image from LDS Media Library

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Joseph Fielding Smith“The inspiration of the Lord has gone out and takes hold of the minds of men, though they know it not, and they are directed by the Lord. In this manner he brings them into his service that his purposes and his righteousness, in due time, may be supreme on the earth.“Now let me say briefly that I do not believe for one moment that these discoveries have come by chance, or that they have come because of superior intelligence possessed by men today over those who lived in ages that are past. They have come and are coming because the time is ripe, because the Lord has willed it, and because he has poured out his Spirit on all flesh.”

Source: Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, Oct. 1926, p. 117 Image from LDS Media Library

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Howard W. Hunter“In recent years we have begun using information technology to hasten the sacred work of providing ordinances for the deceased. The role of technology in this work has been accelerated by the Lord Himself, who has had a guiding hand in its development and will continue to do so. However, we stand only on the threshold of what we can do with these tools. I feel that our most enthusiastic projections can capture only a tiny glimpse of how these tools can help us – and of the eternal consequences of these efforts.”

Source: Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, Mar. 1995 Image from LDS Media Library

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“[E]very time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”

Image and quote from 1946 classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Images no longer in copyright.

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Image from video “Church Growth by Stake, 2007” (previously available on LDS.org).

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Traditionally, proselyting missionaries are sent out throughout the world to preach the gospel.

Not every country is “open” to traditional missionary work.

Countries closed to traditional missionary work are now open to us through technology.

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The Lord speaks to Isaiah“[M]y thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. ... “[A]s the rain ... watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

Source: Isaiah 55:8–11, KJV Bible, LDS.org. Image from LDS Media Library

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Alma speaks to his son Helaman

“[T]hese plates of brass, which contain these engravings, which have the records of the holy scriptures upon them ... Behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that they should be kept and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon.

Source: Alma 37:3–6, Book of Mormon, LDS.org. Image from video, “Alma Counsels His Sons,” LDS Media Library

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Alma speaks to his son Helaman

“[I]f they are kept they must retain their brightness; yea, and they will retain their brightness; yea, and also shall all the plates which do contain that which is holy writ. “Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.”

Source: Alma 37:3–6, Book of Mormon, LDS.org. Image from video, “Alma Counsels His Sons,” LDS Media Library

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Why did dinosaurs exist? Fossil fuels. → So the prophet and apostles can preach the gospel throughout the world.

Why do we have electricity?→ So the work in temples can go on at any time of day, providing saving ordinances for our ancestors.

Why are Apple and Samsung pushing to sell connected devices in as many areas of the world as possible?→ So the world can have easy access to the internet, to learn about and study the gospel.

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Spencer W. Kimball“I believe that the Lord is anxious to put into our hands inventions of which we laymen have hardly had a glimpse. ... [M]issionaries could be supplied with small portable cassette tape players and go into the homes with prepared messages to humble family groups all around the globe. Millions of people are anxious and willing to learn, if only they can hear the “sound” in their own language and in a manner that they can grasp and understand.“Just think what can be accomplished when we broadcast our message in many languages over numerous radio stations, large and small, around the world, and millions of good people listening on their transistors are being indoctrinated with the truth.”

Source: Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Oct. 1974 Image from LDS Media Library

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Video We Have a Challenge,

and It’s Growing!

Video from ICS Department / LDSTech. Not available online.

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Brigham Young“Every discovery in science and art, that is really true and useful to mankind, has been given by direct revelation from God. ... We should take advantage of all these great discoveries ... and give to our children the benefit of every branch of useful knowledge, to prepare them to step forward and efficiently do their part in the great work.”

Source: Brigham Young, Deseret News, 22 Oct. 1862, p. 129 Image from LDS Media Library

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Video Elder Bednar’s invitation to

Sweep the Earth as with a Flood (condensed version)

Video from LDS Pacific Area channel on YouTube, with clips from Elder Bednar’s address at BYU Education Week 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vYBgvC10Wg

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This chart is meant to show overall trends and does not show exact proportions.

Church Membership Full-Time MissionariesChurch Employees

Sustaining the Growth of the Church

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Many church members are looking for opportunities to serve.

The internet makes it easy for people to contribute from around the world.

We can help meet the digital needs of the church by serving online.

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FamilySearch Indexing

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LDSTech Projects

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Adding Image Search Words

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Donating Photos and Media

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Vineyard.LDS.org

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Volunteer.LDS.org Creating a Profile

In order to create a profile on Volunteer.LDS.org, you will need an

LDS Account

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Vineyard at BYU facebook.com/vineyardbyu

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Weekly MeetingsEvery Wednesday, 6:00 PM, in the Y-Serve Office (2330 WSC) – indexing, photo keywording, transcribing

Monthly EventsSharing the gospel online, technology training, generating photos, indexing, transcribing, etc.

Leadership Opportunities

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Wednesdays: Weekly volunteer meetings

October 4: General Conference #ldsconf Party

October 16–17: LDSTech Conference

October 18: LDS Music Transcription Hackathon II

Beyond October: Gospel Library Training, Graphic Design Challenge, Reflection Meeting, Indexathon, Photo Walk, Community Outreach Day, Video Tutorials, History Department, Especially for Youth

You can join our Vineyard at BYU events on Facebook or look at photos from previous events.

Upcoming Events

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Volunteer Experiences

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Questions?

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If you want to be involved, join our mailing list or like

“Vineyard at BYU” on Facebook!